John Fugelsang is an American comedian, actor, and broadcaster who brings a unique perspective to discussions of faith and politics. Raised in a devoutly Catholic household on Long Island, he hosts a national radio show and frequently engages in public discourse about religion. He is committed to a progressive interpretation of Christianity that prioritizes compassion and social justice, seeking to equip readers with scriptural tools to counter Christian nationalist rhetoric.

Jesus of Nazareth is a first-century Jewish teacher whose three-year ministry challenged religious and political authorities. Fugelsang presents him as a brown-skinned, Middle Eastern advocate for social justice, whose teachings in the Sermon on the Mount emphasize nonviolence, mercy, and care for the marginalized. His actions and words serve as the definitive ethical standard by which all modern Christian claims are evaluated in the book.

Paul the Apostle is an early Christian missionary who never met Jesus but became instrumental in spreading the faith to the Gentile world. Originally a zealous persecutor of early Christians, he established churches across the Roman Empire and authored letters that heavily shaped Christian doctrine. Fugelsang analyzes how Paul's pragmatic, context-specific letters have been historically elevated to universal doctrine, sometimes at the expense of Jesus's core teachings.

Jerry Falwell Sr. is an American televangelist who founded the Moral Majority and helped align conservative Protestantism with a specific political agenda. He is depicted as a major figure in the rise of Christian nationalism, using media to promote a "family values" platform that emphasized culture-war issues over poverty and justice. His legacy represents the punitive, politically motivated version of Christianity that the book critiques.

Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States, analyzed as a contemporary figure who effectively leverages Christian identity for political gain. Fugelsang uses his presidency as a case study to demonstrate how conservative religious groups often prioritize political allegiance over the ethical teachings of Jesus. His public image and policies are presented as clear contrasts to the commands of the gospel.

Mary Magdalene is a prominent early follower of Jesus who witnessed his crucifixion and resurrection when male disciples fled. She is recognized in early traditions as the "Apostle to the Apostles," though later centuries saw her historical significance diminished by an unfounded conflation with a prostitute. Fugelsang uses her narrative to challenge patriarchal historical revisions within the church.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who applied the teachings of Jesus to the struggle for racial and economic justice. He exemplifies the book's concept of a "Christ follower," using nonviolent direct action and a commitment to the marginalized to enact democratic reform. His legacy serves as a powerful counterpoint to the militant, exclusionary politics of Christian nationalism.

Mike Pence is a former Vice President and Governor of Indiana whose public career blends conservative politics with prominent evangelical identity. Fugelsang examines his involvement in "religious freedom" policy debates, using him to illustrate how public expressions of faith are frequently deployed to support political agendas concerning minority rights and church-state boundaries.

Dorothy Day is an American journalist and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. She is held up as a model of applied Christianity, dedicating her life to voluntary poverty, pacifism, and solidarity with the marginalized. Her focus on hospitality and direct care for the vulnerable directly contrasts with the pursuit of political power advocated by Christian nationalists.

St. Francis of Assisi is a medieval Italian friar and founder of the Franciscan movement who renounced wealth to live a life of poverty and service. Fugelsang uses him as the ultimate counter-example to the aggressive "warrior Jesus" archetype, presenting him as a historical figure who chose peacemaking and compassion during a period characterized by religious warfare.

Mary Margaret is John Fugelsang's mother, a former Daughter of Wisdom nun who worked with leprosy patients in Malawi. Coming from the segregated South, she spent years serving in healthcare before eventually leaving her order to marry Jack and raise a family on Long Island. She instills in her son a version of Catholicism based on active service, compassion, and the primacy of human connection.

Jack is John Fugelsang's father, a Brooklyn native and former Franciscan brother known as Brother Boniface. He taught history and coached basketball before leaving his religious order to marry Mary Margaret after a ten-year correspondence. His decision to choose family over religious vows serves as the book's final example of prioritizing love above religious institution.

Leonard is John Fugelsang's paternal grandfather, a Brooklyn house painter who worked for clients like General Douglas MacArthur. Despite being a devoted family man who lovingly cared for his ailing wife, he harbored strong racial and religious prejudices. His late-life reconciliation with a Filipino priest illustrates Fugelsang's belief in the transformative power of human connection.

David is a biblical patriarch and King of Israel whose complex life is referenced to challenge rigid literalist readings of scripture. Fugelsang points to David's practice of polygamy, his abuse of power, and his intense covenantal bond with Jonathan to demonstrate that biblical morality is rarely as simple as modern purity culture suggests.

Jonathan is a biblical figure from 1 Samuel whose profound bond with David is examined in the context of LGBTQ inclusion. Their relationship, characterized by deep devotion and covenant-making, is used by Fugelsang to explore scriptural precedents for expansive, non-traditional forms of love.

Bathsheba is a biblical figure who suffered under King David's abuse of power but is often unfairly characterized by later traditions as a seductress. Fugelsang recontextualizes her story to critique patriarchal double standards. She is prominently featured in the Gospel of Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.

Tamar is a biblical figure from Genesis who disguises herself to secure her legal rights after her father-in-law breaks his promise to her. She secures her survival through subversive means and avoids execution by proving her father-in-law's paternity. Fugelsang highlights her place in Jesus's lineage to demonstrate scripture's embrace of marginalized women.

Rahab is an ancient Jericho resident who protects Israelite spies and secures her family's safety during the city's fall. Often defined solely by her profession as a prostitute, her critical role in biblical history earns her a place in the genealogy of Jesus, illustrating a divine preference for the socially stigmatized.

Phoebe is an early Christian deacon praised by Paul the Apostle in his letters. Fugelsang uses her existence as a recognized female leader to demonstrate the contradictions in Paul's writings regarding women's silence and submission in the church.

Junia is an early Christian leader explicitly recognized by Paul as a prominent apostle. Her historical presence is cited by Fugelsang as clear evidence that women held significant spiritual authority in the early church, contrary to later patriarchal restrictions.